H.—2
18
Mr. Tabaet considered that if the colony were declared clean the vessels trading to the colony would also be deemed clean. The sheep could not be carried by an English vessel, say, to New South Wales, but vessels like those of Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co., and the Union Steamship Company, would be able to carry them. The clause was agreed to as amended. Diseases in Animals. Proposed: " 28. That this Conference considers that M. Pasteur's vaccine of anthrax is effective, and recommends that assistance be given him in establishing agencies in all the colonies, with a view to those owners who require the vaccine obtaining and using it."—Agreed to. Proposed : " 29. That the travelling, selling or offering for sale, or slaughtering for food, of any animals affected by the diseases known as tuberculosis and actinomycosis, or the using of cows affected by tuberculosis or actinomycosis for dairy purposes, be punishable by law; and that there be a more thorough inspection of dairy-cattle in use in populous districts." The Acting-Chaieman said that in New Zealand a Stock Inspector attended the market, and if he were not satisfied with the condition of an animal offered for sale he informed the owner that he could not allow it to be slaughtered for consumption. He thought that there were many instances where animals were condemned unnecessarily, or on insufficient grounds. He knew of one case where the Inspector had condemned an animal as cancerous because it had a large jaw. He believed great hardship was sometimes caused through want of knowledge on the part of those invested with authority in such matters. Mr. Pack thought, before power was given to Inspectors to order the destruction of animals, they should see that these Inspectors were possessed of the necessary technical knowledge. Many ordered animals to be destroyed simply because they thought they were suffering from tuberculosis, without having identified the disease. An animal might be destroyed some day through an alleged disease which might afterwards be refuted, and the colony be involved in great loss. He had examined a-New Zealand cow said to be affected with tuberculosis, but when microscopically examined he found actinomycosis in every part. It was very simple for the Inspectors to acquire the necessary knowledge to discriminate between certain diseases, and they should be made to do so. Mr. Boag said that at Addington stockyards there were two Inspectors—one of sheep, having every requirement in the way of knowledge, and the other appointed by the County Council for the inspection of slaughteryards. Both attended regularly, and if the latter saw an animal about which he was doubtful he had power to call in a professional and detain the beast until he was satisfied that it was fit for consumption or otherwise. The cases they had to inquire into were very few indeed. In Canterbury they took all the care and trouble in that way possible. Clause agreed to. Proposed : " 30. That the Conference expresses its belief in the efficacy of inoculation as preventive of pleuro-pneumonia."—Agreed to. Proposed : "31. That the Conference affirms the principle of compulsory inoculation for pleuro-pneumonia where the disease appears." —Agreed to. Proposed : " 32. That there be no restrictions against the free interchange of inoculated cattle bearing the inoculation ear-mark, but that a declaration by the owner that the cattle have been duly inoculated accompany them." Amendment proposed : " That the words ' on the Continent of Australia ' be inserted after the word ' That,' in the first line." —Agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed : "33. That all sheep infected with catarrh be destroyed ; that the owners be recompensed to the extent of two-thirds the value of sound sheep at the date of destruction ; and that the run or place on which the sheep were pasturing be strictly quarantined for six months." —Agreed to. Proposed: " 34. That, as the conditions are so various in the different colonies, each colony should legislate for itself, where practicable, on the subjects of fluke, worms, and foot-rot in sheep." —Agreed to. Mr. Bbuce desired to obtain some information with regard to worms. Mr. McClean said they had no fluke in New Zealand, and had no legislation dealing with worms or foot-rot. It was proposed to legislate for foot-rot, making it an offence to drive sheep suffering from foot-rot along the roads, and giving the Inspector power to have sheep affected with it dressed. They had followed what had been done in New South Wales with regard to worms— namely, circularising the owners ; and in the circulars issued they had incorporated the New South Wales pamphlet on worms. The treatment commonly used was turpentine and oil. There were a great many proprietary medicines, but no official tests had been made of these. There were no patent licks used in the colony to any extent, but some were being introduced. Mr. Beydone said he had had some experience of lungworm, and had lost a great many hoggets by it until it was found out how to treat it. He used turpentine and oil with a syringe. That, with a change of pasture, had been found almost a perfect cure. Latterly he had heard about a syringe for injecting it from the outside. He sent Home for half a dozen, and supplied his company's stations with them, and their managers invariably used them now. This remedy had almost an immediate effect, and generally only one dose was required. Immediately they saw any symptoms of the disease among the hoggets they gave them a dose, and that generally stopped it. The Acting-Chaieman said that, as far as his experience of lungworm had gone, he found the remedy was a constant change of paddocks. If the sheep were kept in one paddock for any length of time the disease became intensified. Dosing was a certain remedy, but there was nothing like a change of pasture every week. His company's sheep were generally dosed three times during the winter with turps and oil, and last winter they used brine mixed up strong enough to float an egg-
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